It was just a few years ago that @therealhikingviking decided to SOBO thru-hike the AT starting in December. Head to the link in our profile to get his top tips for winter backpacking. #trektheAT#thetrek

Very lucrative, powerful industries work to convince women our value entirely depends on our appearance, and that *aging* is one of the worst things that can happen to our looks. For women, those changes aren’t “distinguished” or “silver foxy!” They are to be *immediately* stopped, reversed and hidden at any cost. Because you’re worth it. Barf.
✖️Ever wondered why women are targeted so relentlessly by the anti-aging industry, to the point that we are spending billions per year on youthful “solutions?” IT’S BECAUSE WOMEN OVER AGE 40 INFLUENCE MORE THAN 80% OF PURCHASING DECISIONS IN THE US. That is a HUGE target market! A whopping 62 percent of the female population in the US is over 40. A few facts to open your eyes:
✖️Men in all forms of media are featured well into their 70s while women tend to become invisible around age 40 (think about couples paired up in movies, news anchors, etc.).
✖️Men ages 40+ appear in media about 10x more frequently than women ages 40+.
✖️Researchers even have a name for this egregious level of under-representation: symbolic annihilation. Unfortunately, the effects of that annihilation on body image, feelings of self-worth and bank accounts aren't so "symbolic” — they are tangible and devastating for womankind.
✖️Media will continue to symbolically annihilate women who don't fit money-making ideals, but WE do not have to annihilate our own faces and bodies to fit those unreal standards.
✖️What we COULD annihilate is our allegiance to the idea that we have to look young forever, and that women who don't look that way aren't worth seeing and hearing. THAT annihilation will be much more empowering, less expensive and less painful. You with us?👊🏽
✖️[As per usual, if you want more on this topic, click the link in our bio for our online Body Image Resilience Course at courses.beautyredefined.org, our TEDx talk, and our blog!] #beautyredefined#morethanabody#seemorebemore

As I lay in bed, home from work... I can’t help but wonder if it’s my fault that I’m not feeling my best!
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I’ve always been one to help everyone around me, whether it’s something small like picking up a friend and dropping them off, or something bigger like going hours out of my way to make sure someone else is happy.
It’s hard for me to acknowledge that self care is something more prevalent and acceptable nowadays. But it is. And that’s incredible!
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So, yea. It’s probably my fault that I haven’t had a proper or good night’s sleep, or that I always make sure other people have what they need before I do.... but I’m starting to slowly and surely do things for myself! I’m staying home today, catching up on TV to relax, booking weekend getaways, my relationships with people who are important to me, and anything else I may need to feel my best self!
So just remember, it’s difficult to help others when you don’t help yourself first!
Feel good my Gabbers! ❤️💕
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#thedailygabs#dailygabs#gabs#gabbers#gabbin#tdg#self#selfcare#care#selflove#health#happiness#helpothers#helpyourself